Contract Talks Have “Intensified” Between Giants & Eli Manning

Dan Graziano of ESPN reports that contract talks between the Giants and QB Eli Manning have “intensified” in recent weeks.

The Giants are working to try to get a long-term agreement in place with Manning before training camp starts next week, and one source tells Graziano that they’re confident a deal would get done “at some point.”

According to Graziano, New York is comfortable with the idea of waiting until next offseason if they can’t reach an agreement they consider fair.

The Giants are reportedly willing to pay a premium price to keep Manning and have acknowledge that the new contract signed by Ben Roethlisberger could provide them with a template for Manning’s next deal.

For what it’s worth, Roethlisberger’s new contract wound up being a five-year, $99 million contract that included $64 million guaranteed.

If Manning is able to put together a solid 2015 season, the Giants could be in a position where they may have to consider franchising their quarterback, which would run them close to $20 million.

Manning, 34, has one year remaining on his seven-year, $106.9 million contract that included $35 million guaranteed. His base salary for the 2015 season sits at $17 million to go along with a staggering cap figure of $19.75 million.

In 2014, Manning threw for 4,410 yards while completing 63.1 percent of his passes to go along with 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 18 quarterback out of 39 qualifying players.